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Minister "impressed" by Usk prison reintegration

Local Government and Business Minister, Lesley Griffiths, visited Prescoed Prison near Usk yesterday, to see how the prison is providing inmates with the skills to help them reintegrate into the community when they are released.

HMP Prescoed is a dedicated resettlement category D Prison, providing resettlement services to adult and young adult male prisoners who are within two years of discharge.

The Minister met with prisoners and staff and went on a tour of the facilities including the prison’s Cilwrgi Farm, where prisoners grow produce for the Welsh Government supported Clinks restaurant in Cardiff Prison, which is open to the public.

The restaurant promotes the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners and also champions the wealth of quality, fresh and organic produce available throughout Wales. 30 prisoners from HMP Prescoed travel to Cardiff daily to work and train towards gaining nationally recognised qualifications. Graduates are then helped to find employment within the Welsh catering and hospitality industry by the Clinks Cymru Charity. At 12.5 per cent, the reoffending rate of those who train in the restaurant is considerably lower than the national average of 47 per cent.

The Minister said: “I was very impressed with the work I saw at HMP Prescoed today to help prisoners to prepare for life back in the community. The staff and the prisoners themselves demonstrated their dedication and commitment to improve inmates chances of leading a positive and fulfilling life when they leave custody.”